Real del Mar

Rosarito Golfing at Real Del Mar Golf Resort and Country Club opened in 1992, this course was carved out of three canyons along the Pacific. Twelve of the holes have ocean views to the Coronado Islands. Bermuda greens, rarely seen in the San Diego area, are used on the short layout, which measures less than 6,000 yards from the white tees. The narrow front nine at Real Del Mar circles a mountain, with water on the short par-4 second, the par-3 third and to the right of the green on the fifth, a par-4 that doglegs left. The sixth through ninth holes head down the mountain but normally play into stiff ocean breezes. The back nine at Real Del Mar is a bit longer as it heads out through a canyon, then makes a 180-degree turn back toward the clubhouse.

Signature hole and Real del Mar

A double-dogleg to an island green means double trouble at the 17th hole. Don't even think about getting home in two. The green is 526 yards from the blue tees and 504 from the whites, with a bend to the right off the tee and another to the green, which is tucked left along a hillside. The wind usually is in your face, so make sure you have enough club on your third shot to reach the long, diagonal green, which is surrounded by a lake.